Academic English

corroborate

Martin McMorrow — Tue, 01 May 2012 08:09:18 GMT

KIWI PHOTO Couple on a bench in New Plymouth

ACADEMIC WORD
When you corroborate what has previously been said or written, you present evidence to support these claims. For example, if there are various witnesses to the same crime, it is important that they corroborate each other’s testimony (testimony is the evidence which witnesses give). And corroboration is a very important aim of scientific research, because it’s important that previous findings are corroborated by other scientists. In other words, if the experiment is replicated, the same findings will emerge.

TEST
Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out?
1) Claims that he was related to the Czar of Russia have not been corroborated.
2) The team set out to corroborate these findings by replicating the exact conditions of the original experiment.
3) In the absence of any dna evidence, it will be difficult to corroborate the allegations.
4) Unfortunately, our team was unable to corroborate the experiment, as the original report contained very limited details regarding the method.
KIWI QUIZ
Which of these may soon die out in the wild in New Zealand as a result of an introduced pest (known as ‘the varroa mite’)? the Huia bird/ the native bee
/ the Kauri tree

VIDEO

Today’s video looks at scientific discoveries. Click on pause on your podomatic player and click on play to watch the video and answer the questions below. When it’s over, click on ‘play’ again on the podomatic player to hear me give the answers to the questions.

1) What lesson did Feynmann learn about science from the question he asked his father about inertia?

It provides clear answers to difficult questions
Simple questions can lead to interesting discoveries
Scientific answers are generally circular

2) What kind of scientific research provided evidence for Aristotle’s belief that the Earth is round?

Geology
Philosophy
Astronomy

3) Erathosthenes was helped to calculate the circumference of the Earth by a letter he received about …

a deep well
a long journey
a new formula

4) Why did Erathosthenes know the distance between Alexandria and Swenet?
he measured it carefully for his research
it was an important trade route
he had travelled it many times

5) What was Fizeau interested in corroborating?

the speed of light
the existence of the Higgs Boson particle
the findings of other scientists

6) Apart from a toothed wheel, which other piece of equipment did Fizeau use which Galileo had not used in his experiment to determine the speed of light?

a mirror
a beam of light
a candle

7) Adam Savage likes the term ‘field’ of science because it suggests _____

corroboration
mystery
openness

rigid

Martin McMorrow — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:47:25 GMT

KIWI PHOTO Lady’s Bay, Kawau Island

ACADEMIC WORD If something is rigid, it is difficult to bend or change. So, for example, if a building is rigid, it has a strong frame, so that it can withstand shocks. However, it is also important to have some flexibility, so that the frame doesn’t crack. If a system is rigid, it also means it has very limited flexibility.

TEST

Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out?

She was rigid with fear after the shock and unable to move.

The glass had become rigid with age and shattered when the door slammed shut.

The mattress contains over 50 internal supports to provide rigidity, while the luxurious foam filling provides comfort.

They argued that rigid discipline was necessary throughout the armed forces in order to ensure controlled performance under stress.

PRACTICE

Which objects around you now are rigid?

Did your school or college have rigid regulations regarding behaviour?

KIWI QUIZ

Which of the following was an influential New Zealand born scientist?

Ernest Rutherford / Joseph Faraday / Isaac Newton

VIDEO

Today’s video looks at cell biology. It’s actually a presentation made by an American student. Click on pause on your podomatic player and click on play to watch the video and answer the questions below. When it’s over, click on ‘play’ again on the podomatic player to hear me give the answers to the questions.

1) Every cell consists of dna inside a cell _________

membrane protein nucleus

2) Prokaryotes do not have a ______

a nucleus a membrane dna

3) Which of these organisms can be classified as prokaryotes?

archaea amoeba fungi

4) MRNA is translated into proteins within _________

dna ribosomes membranes

5) Ribosomal RNA is produced within the ________

prokaryote nucleolus archaea

6) Within the cell, some ribosomes are attached to the endoplasmic ________

cylosol body reticulum

7) Proteins which emerge from the Golgi Bodies, surrounded by their own membrane are known as _________

vesicles MRNA ribosomes

8) An organelle is _____

a collection of cells a particular form of vesicle a sub-unit of a cell

9) Mitochondria live within _____

cells ribosomes cellulose

10) Plant cells have cell walls made of ____ to provide rigidity

cellulose mitochondria membrane

auspicious

Martin McMorrow — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:10:15 GMT

KIWI PHOTO Dragon in Hamilton Gardens

ACADEMIC WORD

If a date or time is auspicious, it means that, especially in a particular culture, it’s considered a good time to do something in order to achieve good fortune. For instance, in Chinese culture, the year of the dragon is considered an auspicious year to be born. That is why large numbers of Chinese couples are said to be planning to have a child this year. In Western cultures, on the other hand, Friday 13^th is considered an inauspicious date to start a new venture.

TEST

Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out?

Given the uncertain financial situation in Europe, this may not be an auspicious time to be opening a new retail business there.

The investment initially lost money but became increasingly auspicious in subsequent years.

He scored in his first game for his new club, which the fans considered an auspicious start.

She arrived late and kept calling him by the wrong name, which was hardly an auspicious start to their relationship.

PRACTICE

In your culture, are there any auspicious or inauspicious dates to …

get married

have a child

start a journey or a business

KIWI QUIZ

Dragon is the name of one of New Zealand’s most successful …

theatre companies

rock groups

wildlife parks

VIDEO

Today’s video looks at investment. It’s part of a question and answer session by the American investor, Warren Buffett, with MBA students. Click on pause on your podomatic player and click on play to watch the video and answer the questions below. When it’s over, click on ‘play’ again on the podomatic player to hear me give the answers to the questions.

1) The best investments are when ...

both quantitative and qualitative data are strongly positive

qualitative data is positive and quantitative data is mixed

qualitative data is mixed and quantitative data is positive

2) Warren Buffett regrets his investment in a windmill company because ...

it only generated a short-term return on investment

it was not an ethical investment

long-term losses cancelled out short-term gains

3) In order to make a good investment, Warren Buffett argues that it is essential that you ....

have comprehensive financial statements available

are already familiar with the area of business

have face-to-face meetings with the senior management team

4) A successful investor needs ...

to diversify their circle of competence

to understand their own limitations

to avoid investing where there is a possibility of making a loss

5) Warren Buffett used to investigate an industry by asking managers questions about ...

future plans

ex-employees

rival companies

6) Warren Buffett uses Wrigley’s Chewing Gum as an example of a company...

whose fundamentals change very little over the years

for which all the important details are collected in a database

whose owner contacted him after playing golf with a mutual acquaintance

7) Warren Buffett expects Coca Cola domestic sales to ...

increase modestly

decline steadily

remain steady

8) Warren Buffett attributes the steady growth in per capita consumption of Coca Cola largely to its ...

addictive nature

simple brand values

inherent qualities

austerity

Martin McMorrow — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:28:57 GMT

KIWI PHOTO Accountancy Firm, Petone, New Zealand

ACADEMIC WORD

Austerity means a belief in a simple life without any luxury. Nowadays, it’s most commonly used to talk about the economic situation when the government has to reduce spending. For example, Greece and Italy announced austerity measures in 2011.

TEST

Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out?

She lived a simple life, characterised by austerity and dedication to her art.

Trade Unions have announced national protests against the Government austerity programme.

Doctors recommended an austerity programme with plenty of fresh vegetables and exercise.

Having grown up during a period of austerity, in later years he found it hard to tolerate any waste.

PRACTICE

Is your country going through a period of austerity?

What effect do austerity programmes have on everyday life?

KIWI QUIZ

Which party won the most seats at the 2011 New Zealand election?

National / United Future / New Zealand First

VIDEO

Today’s video looks at Government austerity measures. It’s actually a presentation by a well-known Scottish economics professor, Mark Blyth, who now teaches at Brown University in the United States. Click on pause on your podomatic player and click on play to watch the video and answer the questions below. When it’s over, click on ‘play’ again on the podomatic player to hear me give the answers to the questions.

1) What was the size of debt caused by the financial crisis of 2008?

$2 bn 2 000% $2 tn

2) The bottom 40% of the US population hasn’t __________ since 1989.

had a real wage increase improved productivity paid any interest

3) Blyth compares leveraging to playing Blackjack. What is Blackjack?

a criminal activity a form of gambling a violent sport

4) Governments felt they had to intervene to help banks because the banks were too big to _______

fail see buy

5) Blyth believes that Governments and Businesses need to pay down their debt

as soon as possible at different times at the same time

6) The fallacy of composition is the false belief that what is good for one part of the economy is ....

bad for another good for all bad for all

7) Blyth argues that Governments have chosen austerity measures because ___

they are easier than raising taxes

raising taxes is more virtuous

they allow all citizens to contribute equally

8) According to Blyth, austerity measures make the poor pay for the problems of debt ______

through higher taxes which they caused twice

VOCABULARY

Can you guess the meaning of these expressions from the video?

.. the slashing of government services

.. governments have bailed out the banks

.. austerity confuses virtue with vice

.. pay down the debt

rhetoric

Martin McMorrow — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 02:24:34 GMT

KIWI PHOTO Photo on the side of a Camper Van belonging to Australian Rugby fans

ACADEMIC WORD

Rhetoric means the use of words to influence people. Rhetoric is very important in every aspect of public life, since we are very often trying to influence people – for example, by impressing, criticising or persuading them. Rhetoric is also a very important part of academic writing, especially in essays, where you need to use your words carefully to establish your credibility as someone who knows what they are writing about and to build an argument to support your point of view. Rhetoric is a Greek word and the most famous writer about rhetoric was Aristotle, who lived more than 2000 years ago. He described three main rhetorical strategies – ethos, logos and pathos – which can be used to influence someone and make them see things in the same way as you do – or maybe to accept your proposal. These strategies are explained in today’s video. A common use of the word is in the expression ‘a rhetorical question’. This is a question you ask not in order to get an answer but to draw the reader’s or listener’s attention to a key point, which you are going to answer yourself. For this reason, it is very common to include rhetorical questions in essays and presentations. An example would be: ‘Given the complexity of the modern business environment, how can managers have confidence in their decision-making? This essay will critically evaluate three potential solutions to this fundamental management dilemma”. Sometimes, especially in the news or informal conversation, the word ‘rhetoric’ is used in a negative way. If you describe a speech as ‘just rhetoric’ or ‘empty rhetoric’, it means that you think that the person is not sincere in the way they are trying to influence you. So, this is another example of a word which has a more objective, technical meaning in academic writing, and a more limited, vague and emotional meaning in everyday use.

TEST

Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out?

The President used the full range of her rhetorical skills to persuade reluctant senators to back her economic recovery plan.

We’ve heard enough rhetoric from this Government – what we are waiting to see is action!

This study analyses the effect of specific rhetorical strategies in eliciting helpful responses on online forums.

Could I ask a couple of rhetorical questions? Firstly, what is your definition of ‘innovative’?

PRACTICE

What rhetorical strategies are commonly used in advertising?

Which of your teachers or lecturers would you say has the most impressive rhetorical skills?

KIWI QUIZ

Which famous New Zealand rugby player has been ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup because of an injury suffered in training?

VIDEO

Today’s video is an amusing and very clear explanation of Aristotle’s influential theory of rhetoric. Click on pause on your podomatic player and click on play to watch the video and answer the questions below. When it’s over, click on ‘play’ again on the podomatic player to hear me give the answers to the questions.

1) If you can make your audience believe that you are fair, knowledgeable and trustworthy, you have established your ...

rhetoric

credibility

consideration

2) Which rhetorical strategy is the boy using when he says to his mum, ‘I know you’re tired ...’

Ethos

Logos

Pathos

3) Which rhetorical strategy is based on the use of evidence and reasonable arguments?

Ethos

Logos

Pathos

4) Why was the boy’s reference to food pyramids a good example of Logos?

it provoked anger

it was a clever deception

it provided evidence

5) The main purpose of the rhetorical strategy of Pathos is to make the audience feel ...

guilty about their behaviour

the same way as you do about a question

sorry for the way you feel

6) The most effective rhetoric uses Ethos, Logos and Pathos ...

in an integrated way

in a logical sequence

as separate strategies